'When I’m in shape, I still believe I can beat both Alcaraz and Sinner' - Djokovic sends ominous message to rivals ahead of US Open semi-final showdown

With another US Open semi-final rapidly approaching for Novak Djokovic, he has stated that he could defeat both Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz when playing his best tennis. He faces the Spaniard tonight for the chance to compete in an 11th final at Flushing Meadows.

Going into the US Open, the 24-time Grand Slam champion was firmly the third favourite to clinch the title, behind Sinner and Alcaraz, with him touted by many as the only person to compete with them when on the court. Despite recent battles with them, he still believes that he can get the better of either of them when at his mesmerizing best.

In an interview with SportKlub, Djokovic said: “When I’m in shape and capable of playing my best tennis, I still believe I can beat both Alcaraz and Sinner. The most dangerous part is that I need to make a great effort, work very hard, and push my body to its limits to have the chance to face them. It’s a bit of an unfair battle because their youth and current superiority allow them to arrive in full condition, while I already have half an empty tank. That’s biology.”

Previous match-ups against the top two

Despite what he has said, it has not worked out like that when stepping onto the court. The Serbian has failed to defeat Sinner in his last five head-to-heads with him. His last victory over the Italian came in the 2023 Tour Finals, overcoming Sinner in the final to claim the title. He also beat Alcaraz en route.

Since then, he has lost to him in the Davis Cup, the 2024 Australian Open semi-final - prior to Sinner claiming his first Grand Slam triumph, the Shanghai Masters final, and most recently the 2025 Roland Garros and Wimbledon semi-final, with the 38-year-old unable to steal a set off the world number one, and only clinching two break points.

The same cannot be said for Alcaraz. Back in 2023, Djokovic got the better of the exciting talent in the highly anticipated Roland Garros semi-final. Alcaraz levelled the tie at one set apiece before struggling with cramp for the rest of the match. Djokovic steamrolled the young Spaniard, winning the final two sets 6-1, 6-1.

Alcaraz would get his revenge a month later, famously beating the seven-time Wimbledon champion in five sets in almost five hours to claim his first Wimbledon title. He would produce the same feat the next summer, but in a much more dominant fashion and half the time of the previous clash.

Similar to the prior year, Djokovic did not have to wait long to avenge the consecutive Wimbledon defeats, overcoming Alcaraz 7-6, 7-6 in the Olympic final to finally grasp the gold medal, the one main prize that had thwarted him in his illustrious career.